Spain raises minimum age for marriage, sex to 16

MADRID, July 23 (Reuters) - Spain raised the minimum age for
marriage and sexual relations to 16 on Thursday from 14 and 13
respectively, bringing the country into line with much of Europe
after protests from child protection groups.

Spanish law until now had allowed 14-year-olds to marry with
permission from a judge. The government said two years ago it
would change the law with the aim of protecting children from
forced marriage and exploitation, and the legislation came into
effect on Thursday.

Very few children under 16 have married in Spain in recent
years - just five last year and two in 2013, according to
official statistics.

In fact, a brutal recession that led to one of the highest
youth unemployment rates in Europe means young people are
staying at home for longer and marrying later. The average age
for tying the knot stands at 37 for men and 34 for women,
statistics show.

The minimum age for sexual relations was also raised on
Thursday, from 13 to 16, after international bodies including
the United Nations and the European Council pressed for a
change.

Spain now has the age of consent as France, Britain, and the
Netherlands, and higher than Germany and Italy where it is 14.
(Reporting By Sonya Dowsett; editing by John Stonestreet)